Flexibility in inquests

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Inner West London Assistant Deputy Coroner v Channel 4 Television Corporation and Another in the Queen’s Bench Division

Queen’s Bench Division

Published December 11, 2007

Inner West London Assistant Deputy Coroner v Channel 4 Television Corporation and Another

Courts should avoid trying to fit a coroner’s application for a witness summons into the template of civil litigation; because of the inquisitorial nature of an inquest, a more flexible approach should be taken.

Mr Justice Eady so held in the Queen’s Bench Division on October 31, 2007 in giving reasons for granting, on October 26, an application under rule 34.4 of the Civil Procedure Rules for a witness summons seeking the production of documents, made against Channel 4 Television